kesling



May 5, 1959 K. K. KESLTING 2,885,253

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed July 19, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 58 Ma 60 i 1 I6 IS IN VEN TOR. Keith K. Kes/ing His A Horney QM W y 59 K. K. KESUNG 2,885,253

DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Filed July 19, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 3O xz 58 54 6O 54 X 56 /58/ 1 60 74/26 GOVF I J Fig, 4 Fig. 5

32 INVENTOR. 2 24 Keith K. Kesl/ng 35 3o Fl 6 BY E H is Affornag/ United States Patent 6 DOMESTIC APPLIANCE Keith K. Kesling, Dayton, Ohio, assiguor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application July 19, 1956, Serial No. 598,824

9 Claims. (Cl. 312-236) This invention relates to a domestic appliance and more particularly to a mounting and supporting arrangement for a heating unit that is pivoted to a support and which folds down from a vertical position to a horizontal position when the heating unit is to be used.

An object of the invention is to provide a supporting arrangement for a pair of heating units of the fold-down type, the heating units being so supported that they fold together when moved from a horizontal to a vertical position.

A further object is to provide a mounting and support arrangement for a heating unit wherein the heating unit may be moved to a position within a compartment or enclosure for storage and may be withdrawn from the compartment or enclosure when it is desired to use the heating unit.

A more specific object is to provide a kitchen cabinet with a compartment that is adapted to house a folddown type of heating unit, the heating unit being enclosed by the compartment when in a stored position and being slidable to a position without the compartment and resting on a work surface of the cabinet when it is desired to use the heating unit.

Still another object is to provide a kitchen cabinet having an upper storage compartment with a heating unit that may be stored within the compartment and moved from a position within the compartment to a position resting on a work surface disposed below the compartment, there being an exhaust fan associated with the compartment for withdrawing air from the compartment and from the area immediately above the heating unit when the heating unit rests on the work support.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side view, with parts broken away, of a kitchen cabinet that supports a pair of heating units in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of the cabinet and heating units shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side view, with parts broken away, of a modified kitchen cabinet having supporting means for a pair of heating units;

Figure 5 is a front elevation, with parts broken away, of the kitchen cabinet and heating unit arrangement shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of Figures 1 and 4.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a kitchen cabinet generally denoted by reference numeral 10 is shown, the cabinet including an upper cabinet portion 12 and a lower cabinet portion 14. The kitchen cabinet portion 14 is provided with a compartment 16 formed by a lower 2,885,253 Fatented May 5, 1959 ICC wall 18, a rear wall 20, a front wall 22, and side walls 24. The compartment may be formed by welding the walls of the compartment together or by any other suitable means. The compartment 16 as shown in Figs. 1 i

and 2 is open at its top end, the opening being circumscribed by a top work surface member 26 that is suitably secured to the top portion of the lower cabinet 14. The compartment 16 is adapted to enclose a heating unit support generally denoted by reference numeral 28 that is slidable into and out of the compartment 16.

The heating unit support 28 comprises a back panel portion 30 and a divider portion 32 that is welded or otherwise secured to back panel portion 30 and which is located normal thereto. The heating unit support has a top panel portion 34 that is adapted to close the opening in work support 26 when the heating unit support 28 is moved into compartment 16. As more particularly shown in Fig. 6, the back panel portion 30 of heating unit support 28 slides in a pair of angle iron brackets 36 suitably welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall 20 of kitchen cabinet 10. These brackets serve to guide the movement of the heating unit support 28 when the support is moved into or out of the compartment 16. The front wall 22 of the compartment 16 is provided with similar angle iron brackets 38, as more particularly shown in Fig. 3, and with a channel iron 40 that is welded to divider portion 32 of heating unit support 28. It will be apparent that the angle irons 38 and channel iron 40 also serve to guide the movement of support 28 into and out of compartment 16.

The front wall 22 of compartment 16, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, has a slot 42 that extends vertically of the compartment 16. The lower part of divider portion 32 is provided with a lug 44 that slides within slot 42 when the support 28 moves upwardly and downwardly with respect to compartment 16. The lug 44 is connected with a cable 46 which passes over the pulley 47 and the free end of the cable has attached thereto a weight 48 in order to counterbalance the weight of the slidable heating assembly. A latch bolt mechanism generally denoted by reference numeral 50 engages a notch in the front edge of the heating unit support 28 as shown in Fig. l to hold the support in an elevated position partially above the work surface 26 when the support is moved to this position.

The heating unit support 28 carries a pair of electrical heating units 52 and 54 which are pivoted to the divider portion 32 of support 28 at 56. The heating units 52 and 54 are preferably of the electrical type, each having a top surface heating element 58 and controls 60 for controlling the supply of voltage to the heating elements 58. The electrical connections for the heating units 52 and 54 are now shown but are made in a conventional manner in accordance with conventional practice. It will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 1 and 2 that the heating units 52 and 54 are pivotal to a vertical position wherein the heating units fold together and abut resilient bumpers 62. The heating unit support 28 may also be provided with electrical lamps 64 in order to illuminate the top surface of the heating units 52 and 54 when the heating units are folded downwardly to a horizontal position resting on work surface 56. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the heating units 52 and 54 need not necessarily be of the electrical type but could be of any type that are adapted to fold together in a manner described hereinbefore.

As noted hereinbefore, the support 28 is movable into and out of compartment 16. When it is desired to store the heating units 52 and 54, the heating units are moved to a vertical position wherein they face one another and the heating unit support 28 is pushed downwardly into compartment 16. In this position the top surface panel 34 on'support 28 closes the top opening of compartment 16 to present a smooth, substantially continuous surface with work surface 26. When 1t 15 desired to use the heating elements, support 23 together with the heating units 52 and 54 are Withdrawn from within the compartment 16, and latched in the posit on shown in Figs. 1 and 2 by means of latch bolt mechanism Sil. With the heating units supported in the up position, the heating units 52 and 54 are then folded down to rest on work support 26 and are ready for use. If desired, the pivot points 56 might be provided with counterbalance springs, or other devicesmight be pro vided in order to hold the heating units 52 and 64 against the resilient bumpers 62 when the heating units are In their vertical position.

A modified mounting and supporting arrangement for a pair of heating units is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 wherein the same reference numerals as used in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 6 denote the same or similar parts. As shown in Fig. 4, the kitchen cabinet 10 has a lower cabinet portion 24 and an upper cabinet portion 12. The upper cabinet portion is provided with a compartment 66 that is adapted to house the heating unit support 28 and the heatmg units 52 and 54 attached thereto. A pair of springs 68 are secured between the heating unit support 28 and the upper wall of compartment 66. These springs tend to counterbalance the weight of the heating unit support 28 and the weight of the heating units 52 and 54. The front wall of the top cabinet portion 12 is provided with a latch bolt mechanism generally denoted by reference numeral 70, that engages selectively slots '72 and 7-4 formed in the upper and lower portions of divider portion 32 of heating unit support 28. The heating unit support 28 is supported and guided in an identical fashion with the arrangement for supporting heating unit support 28 shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thus, the rear wall 30 of the support 28 slides in brackets 36 while the divider portion 32 of support 28 slides in brackets 38. With the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the heating units may be folded from the horizontal position shown in these figures to a vertical position wherein they engage resilient bumpers 62. The heating units and the support 28 may then be pushed upwardly into compartment 66 with the aid of springs 68. When the heating unit support 28 is in its up position, the latch bolt mechanism 7% engages in slot 74 to hold the heating unit support and heating units in their raised position. When it is desired to use the heating units 52 and 54, the latch bolt mechanism 7% is released and the heating unit support 28 lowered to a position wherein it abuts the work surface 26. of cabinet ill. in this position the latch bolt 79 engages a slot 72 to hold the support 28 in its lowered position. With the support 28 resting on the work surface 26, the heating units 52 and 54 may be folded down from a vertical position to a horizontal position wherein they rest on work support 26.

It should be noted that the compartment 66 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is provided with an upwardly extending pipe or duct 76 that houses a fan generally denoted by reference numeral 78. The duct or pipe 76 is preferably connected with the atmosphere by suitable piping (not shown). The fan 78 is used as an exhaust fan to withdraw air from compartment 66, and from the area ini mediately above heating units 52 and 54 when the heating units are in their lowered position and resting on work support 26. It will be apparent that cooking odors emanating from utensils resting on heating units 52 and 54 will be withdrawn upwardly through compartment 66 by means of the exhaust fan 7 8.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Incombination, a kitchen cabinet having a heating unit storage compartment and a substantially horizontally disposed stationary work surface, a heating unit support slidably movable vertically from a position within said compartment to a position without said compartment wherein at least a portion of said support extends above said work surface, guide means for guiding said support in its vertical movement, and a heating unit pivotally connected to said support, said heating unit lying in a substantially vertical position when moving vertically with said support into and out of said compartment and being pivotaiiy movable to a horizontal position wherein said heating unit rests on said work surface when said support is in a position without said compartment.

2. In combination, a kitchen cabinet having a heating unit storage compartment and a substantially horizontally disposed work surface, a heating unit assembly having a portion thereof adapted to close said storage compartment and comprising a pair of heating units slidably movable vertically from a position within said compartment to a position without said compartment wherein said heating units overlie said work surface, means for guiding and supporting said heating units in their movement, said heating units being pivoted to said guiding and supporting means and lying in face to face relationship when slidably moving vertically from a position within said compartment to a position without said compartment and pivotally movable to a horizontal position wherein said heating units rest on said work surface when said heating units are moved to a position without said compartment.

3. In combination, a kitchen cabinet having a substantially horizontally disposed work surface, a heating unit storage compartment located in said cabinet below said work surface, a heating unit support movable from a stored position within said compartment to an operating position without said compartment, guide means for guiding said support in its movement, and a pair of electrical heating units pivoted to said support, said heating units lying in a vertical position for movement with said support into and outof said compartment and being pivotally movable to a horizontal position wherein said heating units rest on said work surface when said support is moved to a position without said compartment.

4. In combination, a kitchen cabinet having an upper heating unit storage compartment and a horizontal work surface disposed below said storage compartment, a heating unit support slidably movable vertically downwardly from a stored position within said compartment to a position resting on said work surface, guide means for guiding said support in its movement, and a pair of electrical heating units pivoted to said support, said heating units lying in a vertical position for sliding movement with said support into and out of said compartment and being pivotally movable to a horizontal position wherein said heating units rest on said work surface when said support is in a position resting on said work surface.

5. A kitchen cabinet mounting arrangement for a pair of heating units comprising, a vertically slidable support having a vertically extending back panel portion and a vertically extending divider portion located normal to said back panel portion and fixed thereto, said support being adapted to rest on a horizontally disposed kitchen cabinet work surface, and a pair of heating units pivoted to said support and located at opposite sides of said divider portion, said heating units being pivotally movable from a vertical position wherein said heating units lie in face to face relationship separated by said divider portion to a horizontal position wherein saidheating units rest on said work surface.

6. A kitchen cabinet mounting arrangement for apair of heating units comprising, port having a vertically disposed back panel portion and a vertically extending divider portion located normal to said back panel portion, said support being adapted to rest on a horizontally disposed work surface, a pair of a vertically slidable sup heating units each having a top surface heating element pivoted to said divider portion and located on opposite sides of said divider portion, said heating elements having a rear edge located parallel to said divider portion and being pivotally movable from a vertical position wherein said heating elements face one another to a horizontal position wherein said heating units rest on said work surface.

7. In combination, a kitchen cabinet having an upper heating unit storage compartment and a lower horizontally disposed work surface, a heating unit movable from a stored position within said compartment to a working position wherein said unit rests on said work surface directly below said compartment, guide means for guiding said heating unit in its movement, and a fan for withdrawing air from within said compartment and for withdrawing air from above the heating unit when said heating unit is in a working position resting on said work surface, said compartment serving as an air duct between said heating unit and said fan.

8. In combination, a kitchen cabinet having an upper heating unit storage compartment and a horizontal work surface disposed below said storage compartment, a heating unit assembly, a portion of which is adapted to close said storage compartment, comprising a support slidable vertically from a stored position within said compartment to a position resting on said work surface, guide means for guiding said support in its movement, and a plurality of heating units pivoted to said support, said heating units lying in a vertical position for movement with said support into and out of said compartment and being pivotally movable to a horizontal position wherein said heating units rest on said work surface when said support is in a position resting on said work surface.

9. In a kitchen cabinet having a top cabinet member, a bottom cabinet member, and a stationary horizontal Work surface therebetween, a storage compartment in one of said members, a support including a vertically extending back panel portion vertically slidably mounted in said compartment for guiding said support to a raised and lowered position and biasing means to aid in the movement thereof, a latch for selectively locking said support either in a raised position or a lowered position, and a pair of heating units hingedly secured to said support, said heating units lying in vertical face to face relationship when in said storage compartment and being pivotally movable in an arc located parallel to said back panel portion to a horizontal work surface supported relationship when outside said storage compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,094,786 Heath Apr. 28, 1914 1,503,557 Ringler Aug. 5, 1924 1,590,692 Lewis June 27, 1926 1,952,325 Looft Mar. 27, 1934 2,299,609 Brooks Oct. 20, 1942 2,551,305 Tompkins May 1, 1951 2,592,760 Sutera Apr. 15, 1952 2,722,592 Pellegrin Nov. 1, 1955 2,738,411 Sandin Mar. 13, 1956 2,811,628 Gottfried Oct. 29, 1957 

